Herrerasaurus

The Herrerasaurus
is one of the most primitive dinosaurs
that walked the earth during the Triassic period, about 228 million years ago,
in and around Northwest Argentina. The type species Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis
is the sole species belonging to this genus.

Pictures

Herrerasaurus

Herrerasaurus Dinosaur

Herrerasaurus Fossils

Herrerasaurus Habitat

Herrerasaurus Skeleton

Herrerasaurus Skull

Scientific
Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Clade

Dinosauria

Order

Saurischia

Family

†Herrerasauridae

Genus

†Herrerasaurus

Species

† H. ischigualastensis

Binomial name

†Herrerasaurus
ischigualastensis

Quick Facts

Pronunciation

her-AIR-a-SAWR-us

Geological Period

Late Triassic period, about 235-230 million
years ago

Size

13-15 ft in length

Height

4-7 ft at the hips

Weight

250-500 pounds

Maximum Speed

Approximately 25 mph

Location/Distribution &
Habitat

In and around north-western Argentina,
South America

Climate/Environment

Warm tropical

Diet

Carnivorous

Birth Type (Reproduction)

Oviparous

Locomotion

Bipedal

History
and Discovery

In 1959,
the fossils of the creature were first
discovered by a goat herder named Victorino Herrera in the Ishigualasto region,
San Juan Province, in the north-western part Argentina, where they are thought
to have lived. The herder accidentally stepped on the skeletal remains after
which he came to understand what it was actually.

Later, in
1963, the biologists named the new reptile ‘Herrerasaurus’ honoring the discovery of Herrera, which in English literally translates to ‘Herrera’s
lizard’.

However, for
many years, it was not particularly clear to the paleontologists how to
classify the creature. The primary reason for this confusion is that there have been several biological theories
related to this creature.

One theory
suggested that the animal might have been an early Theropod dinosaur, while the
other propounded that it was an ancient Sauropodomorph (the suborder that includes Prosauropods and Sauropods), whereas
another theory believed that the creature was not a dinosaur at all.

Scientists
had to wait for more than two decades before a decent herrerasaurus fossil showed
up. In 1988, an almost complete skeleton, including the skull, was unearthed.
This discovery threw a much clearer light on the creature, after which the
scientists unanimously opined that it was an ancient Theropod dinosaur.

Physical
Description

The Herrerasaurus
had a medium shaped body and walked on two long hind legs, while their
relatively shorter forearms had short arm bones. The arms were about half the
length of its back legs, with the fingers bearing sharp claws.

It had an
elongated narrow skull with hinged jaws. The creature could open its mouth wide
for eating chunks of meat.

The teeth
of these animals were perfectly serrated like in a saw. The special joint in
its jaw was adapted to hold down its prey better.

Behavior
& Diet

Scientists
believe that the carnivore Herrerasaurus was probably not the apex predator in its
ecosystem. It may have probably survived consuming
Hyperodapedon and Ischigualastia, but it was also being hunted itself by the contemporary
top predators that included reptiles like Postosuchus, Saurosuchus, and several
others.

Herrerasaurus
probably feasted upon small- and medium-sized creatures like small dinosaurs, a
group of herbivorous reptiles called rhynchosaurs, and herbivorous mammal-like
reptiles known as synapsids.

Interesting
Facts

The Herrerasaurus helped the paleontologists explain the evolution of the modern bird wings.

Published on February 18th 2019 by admin under Reptiles.
Article was last reviewed on 13th September 2019.